Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-07

! lSt. This IS true, as well, OF artificial and
/ industrial life. Nature wastes no materi
al, has no vacuums. Each industry, in
harmony with its environment, has its
proper time and place. For the time be-
ing no other industry is so profitable to
the state, because none other is so well
adapted to the particular surroundings.
1t is well when the governing powers OF
the state recognize these truths. That
they were not SO recognized by the gov
erning powers of this state from 1883 70
the present has, with other causes, cost
tie cattle industry of this state over
100000, 900.
What 8 vast sum! Think of it. More
than one-hsif the value of the !entire cat
tie industry of the state, as it stood in
1884, completely wiped ont within three
years.
No wonder that one,half of those en-
gagged in the business for the past five
years are bankrupt. In 1854 the number
of cattle in the state of Texas from the
most reliable attainable statistics was not
far from 10, 900 head, worth at that
time SIS to $50 per head. The present
estimated numDer is near 100000 head,
worth from SIS to $40 per head. The diff
from three years ago according to these
figures is over $l25, 0,OOO-in other
words, the cattle industry Of Texas three
years ago was worth more than three
times what tits at present.
Gentlemen, the ranchman of the plains
is fast passing away. We have just been
told by a gentleman, Mr.. Sturgis of
Wyoming, who the other day addressed
the national convention at Chicago upon
this subject, that this is not so, and that
the ranchman will be a permanency and
his own successor. We do not so read
the signs OF the times. Pressure of pop
ulation, increased value of lands, the
gradual disappearance OF the wild
grasses, from overcrowding, railroads
and telegraphs must soon transform the
ranchman TO the stock farmer. The
active forces that surround him as we
know are changing, and he must change
with them or cease to exist.
In his interest, and for the good of the
state, we hope that more enlightened
state policy will allow these changes to
come, gradually, as surrounding forces
change, and that further shocks, deprecia-
tons and losses will be avoided. To our
own view, the mission of the ranchman,
as we knew him, is well nigh ended; his
compact with society and the state is
very nearly performed upon mis- part.
That compact was that if he redeemed
the lands from savage occupancy, and
passed them to his successor in the
march Of civilization, he should be given
their temporary use. How well he has,
upon his part, kept this compact is evil
denced by the vast sums he has added to
state and national wealth. By the utillza-
ton of waste forces he has produced the
only product that has ever made Texas
known to commerce in the food markets
of the world.
We will say nothing here of the perils
and privationS endured, of the exposure
of life, limb and property, and how, with
out protection and without aid from the
state government, he has assisted in
bearing its burdens. How has the state
of its Legislation will show.
HISTORY OF LEGISLATION.
When Abraham went into new lands
with his cattle, seeking new pasturage
| Che being among the first ranchmeu OF
whom we have any account) he covenant
ed with the Lord that he should have the
whole land lin fee simple we SUPPOSE
seven the land of Canaan" Our Texans
request was more modest. All that he
asked for was grass and water for q little
| time. Although not dealing with right
eouS Lord exactly as the sequal proved
he did not exact covenant as did Abra
ham. His agreement was tacit, not eX
pressed.
From time immemorial; from date
anterior to the common law of England
declaring the right of "common of pas
turage to all English SUBJECTS" the righ
to Craze free upon vacant and outlying
lands has never been questioned or de.
MED. 1t was, and is still, 4 popular
measure with the federal government
and that government takes care always tC
keep it free until Withdrawn from the
public use by the fence of the Tightfu
owner. In the grazing countries where
the general government had jurisdiction
over the lands (the other states and ter
rltories of this Union) individual cattle
men were not allowed to fence lands moi
their own, and to thus excite the people
almost to civil war.
On the contrary, when such attempt:
were made in the grazing countries of the
| uOl IuWSoG StlOLss aim VI tuC ScuCld
government at once reached forth anC
abated the nuisance before it became gen
eral, and the United States District At
torney was instructed t. sue the wrong.
doer for the tlespass.
The result was there were no extra SEES
sionS of state or territorial legislatures,
and valued state industry was saved
from popular prejudice eliminating in
wild and experimental legislation tending
to its ruin. 1t is true, there is this to be
| said in defense of the individual who
| fenced lands not his own in Texas. Our
system of reserving the alternate sections
OF land to the state prevented the private
owner from fencing his own lands in q
body without inclosing those of the state.
However, this did not justify the unlaw-
full act, but the state should have re-
strained and punished the wrong-doer,
and not the industry he represented.
The policy of the general government,
viz, that of allowing the free use of the
public lands for grazing, had always
worked well. 1t had settled the country
from ocean to ocean, 1t had always pre-
vailed in Texas as elsewhere. The pio-
neer ranchman did not dream of innova-
tons and changes st this late date, now
that the country was very nearly settled.
He supposed, of course, that the grass
upon the public domain and upon outly-
ing lands would always remain free until
withdrawn from the public use by the